Proverbs 15:16
New International Version
Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great wealth with turmoil.

New Living Translation
Better to have little, with fear for the LORD, than to have great treasure and inner turmoil.

English Standard Version
Better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble with it.

Berean Standard Bible
Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil.

King James Bible
Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.

New King James Version
Better is a little with the fear of the LORD, Than great treasure with trouble.

New American Standard Bible
Better is a little with the fear of the LORD Than great treasure, and turmoil with the treasure.

NASB 1995
Better is a little with the fear of the LORD Than great treasure and turmoil with it.

NASB 1977
Better is a little with the fear of the LORD, Than great treasure and turmoil with it.

Legacy Standard Bible
Better is a little with the fear of Yahweh Than great treasure and turmoil with it.

Amplified Bible
Better is a little with the [reverent, worshipful] fear of the LORD Than great treasure and trouble with it.

Christian Standard Bible
Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil.

American Standard Version
Better is little, with the fear of Jehovah, Than great treasure and trouble therewith.

Contemporary English Version
It's better to obey the LORD and have only a little, than to be very rich and terribly anxious.

English Revised Version
Better is little with the fear of the LORD, than great treasure and trouble therewith.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Better to have a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and turmoil.

Good News Translation
Better to be poor and fear the LORD than to be rich and in trouble.

International Standard Version
Better is a little accompanied by fear of the LORD than abundant wealth with turmoil.

Majority Standard Bible
Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil.

NET Bible
Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great wealth and turmoil with it.

New Heart English Bible
Better is little, with the fear of the LORD, than great treasure with trouble.

Webster's Bible Translation
Better is little with the fear of the LORD, than great treasure and trouble with it.

World English Bible
Better is little, with the fear of Yahweh, than great treasure with trouble.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Better [is] a little with the fear of YHWH, "" Than much treasure, and tumult with it.

Young's Literal Translation
Better is a little with the fear of Jehovah, Than much treasure, and tumult with it.

Smith's Literal Translation
Good is little with the fear of Jehovah more than much treasure and confusion with it.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasures without content,

Catholic Public Domain Version
Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasures and dissatisfaction.

New American Bible
Better a little with fear of the LORD than a great fortune with anxiety.

New Revised Standard Version
Better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble with it.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Better is a little with reverence for the LORD than the great treasures of the wicked.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
To worship LORD JEHOVAH a little is better than the great treasures of the evil.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Better is little with the fear of the LORD, Than great treasure and turmoil therewith.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Better is a small portion with the fear of the Lord, than great treasures without the fear of the Lord.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Gentle Answer Turns Away Wrath
15All the days of the oppressed are bad, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast. 16Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil. 17Better a dish of vegetables where there is love than a fattened ox with hatred.…

Cross References
Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.

1 Timothy 6:6-8
Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain. / For we brought nothing into the world, so we cannot carry anything out of it. / But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.

Psalm 37:16
Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many who are wicked.

Ecclesiastes 4:6
Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and pursuit of the wind.

Luke 12:15
And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

Philippians 4:11-13
I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances. / I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. In any and every situation I have learned the secret of being filled and being hungry, of having plenty and having need. / I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

Hebrews 13:5
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”

Matthew 6:19-21
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. / But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. / For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

Psalm 34:9-10
Fear the LORD, you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing. / Young lions go lacking and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

Proverbs 16:8
Better a little with righteousness than great gain with injustice.

1 Timothy 6:17-19
Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy. / Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share, / treasuring up for themselves a firm foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

Luke 12:22-31
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. / For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. / Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storehouse or barn; yet God feeds them. How much more valuable you are than the birds! ...

Psalm 73:25-26
Whom have I in heaven but You? And on earth I desire no one besides You. / My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Proverbs 28:6
Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a rich man whose ways are perverse.


Treasury of Scripture

Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.

little

Proverbs 16:8
Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.

Proverbs 28:6
Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

Psalm 37:16
A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

great

Proverbs 10:22
The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

Ecclesiastes 2:10,11,18-23
And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour…

Ecclesiastes 5:10-12
He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity…

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Better Disquietude Fear Great Little Store Therewith Together Treasure Trouble Tumult Turmoil Wealth
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Better Disquietude Fear Great Little Store Therewith Together Treasure Trouble Tumult Turmoil Wealth
Proverbs 15
1. A gentle answer turns away wrath














Better a little
The Hebrew word for "better" is "טוֹב" (tov), which conveys the idea of goodness, pleasantness, or moral excellence. In the context of this verse, it suggests that having a small amount of material wealth is more desirable when accompanied by spiritual richness. The phrase "a little" emphasizes the sufficiency and contentment that can be found in simplicity. Historically, this reflects the agrarian society of ancient Israel, where daily sustenance was often a primary concern, and the value of spiritual wealth was esteemed above material abundance.

with the fear of the LORD
The "fear of the LORD" is a central theme in Proverbs and is derived from the Hebrew word "יִרְאָה" (yirah), which means reverence or awe. This phrase does not imply terror but rather a profound respect and acknowledgment of God's sovereignty and holiness. In a conservative Christian perspective, this fear is foundational to wisdom and understanding, as it aligns one's life with God's will. The fear of the LORD is seen as a guiding principle that leads to a life of righteousness and peace, contrasting with the fleeting nature of material wealth.

than great treasure
"Great treasure" refers to abundant material wealth and possessions. The Hebrew word "אוֹצָר" (otzar) signifies a storehouse or treasury, indicating accumulated riches. In the ancient Near Eastern context, wealth was often associated with power and security. However, this proverb challenges the notion that material abundance equates to true prosperity. From a biblical standpoint, treasures on earth are temporary and can lead to spiritual complacency or moral compromise.

with turmoil
The word "turmoil" is translated from the Hebrew "מְהוּמָה" (mehumah), which denotes confusion, disorder, or distress. This term captures the inner and outer chaos that can accompany the pursuit of wealth without spiritual grounding. Historically, the pursuit of riches often led to social unrest and personal strife, as seen in various biblical narratives. In a conservative Christian view, this turmoil is contrasted with the peace that comes from living in accordance with God's principles, highlighting the futility of seeking fulfillment in material possessions alone.

(16) Trouble.--The "disquiet" (Psalm 39:6) which attends the pursuit and care of riches, in contrast to the "peace which they have who love God's law. (Psalm 119:165.)

Verse 16. - Better is little with the fear of the Lord. The good man's little store, which bears upon it the blessing of the Lord, is better than great treasure and trouble therewith, i.e. with the treasure (Proverbs 16:8; Psalm 37:16). The trouble intended is the care and labour and anxiety attending the pursuit and preservation of wealth. "Much coin, much care" (comp. Ecclesiastes 6:4). It was good advice of the old moralist, "Sis pauper honeste potius quam dives male; Namque hoc fert crimen, illud misericordiam." Vulgate, thesauri magni et insatiabiles, "treasures which satisfy not;" Septuagint, "Great treasures without fear (of the Lord)." Christ's maxim is, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Better
טוֹב־ (ṭō·wḇ-)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good

a little
מְ֭עַט (mə·‘aṭ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 4592: A little, fewness, a few

with the fear
בְּיִרְאַ֣ת (bə·yir·’aṯ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3374: Fear, reverence

of the LORD
יְהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

than great
רָ֝֗ב (rāḇ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7227: Much, many, great

treasure
מֵאוֹצָ֥ר (mê·’ō·w·ṣār)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 214: Treasure, store, a treasury, storehouse

with turmoil.
וּמְה֥וּמָה (ū·mə·hū·māh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4103: Tumult, confusion, disquietude, discomfiture


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 15:16 Better is little with the fear (Prov. Pro Pr)
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